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However, one situation involving change of possession that was not reviewable in the past now can be challenged for replay review. The NFL teams approved review of the "down by contact" call by a vote of 27-5.
The inability to review the play resulted in some maddening situations in which it was obvious the defense recovered what should have been a live ball.
When the down-by-contact ruling is overturned on video review and the defense recovers the ball, the play will be ruled dead at the spot where the defender got the ball. Usually the down-by-contact call is followed closely by a blowing of the referee's whistle. The whistle will not be a factor in the review of the play. But if the play is ruled a fumble, the recovering defender will not be allowed to advance the ball. "To me this was a gaping hole in the replay system," said Mike Perriera, the NFL's vice president of officiating.
The inability to review the play resulted in some maddening situations in which it was obvious the defense recovered what should have been a live ball.
When the down-by-contact ruling is overturned on video review and the defense recovers the ball, the play will be ruled dead at the spot where the defender got the ball. Usually the down-by-contact call is followed closely by a blowing of the referee's whistle. The whistle will not be a factor in the review of the play. But if the play is ruled a fumble, the recovering defender will not be allowed to advance the ball. "To me this was a gaping hole in the replay system," said Mike Perriera, the NFL's vice president of officiating.
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